Nap of the Day: Say ‘oui’ to Ben’s boy at Ludlow

Despite significant support in the betting, Wednesday's selection was unfortunately a non-runner on account of a stone bruise. A shame.

Hopefully we at least get a run for our money from the Nap of the Day on Thursday - although it's fair to say I'm expecting a bit more than that...

MONDOUI'BOY rates a fairly exciting recruit for Ben Pauling - and the six-year-old ought to take a bit of beating in this maiden hurdle over 2m5½f at Ludlow on Thursday.

The son of Castle Du Berlais was a £115k purchase at the David Maxwell dispersal sale in October last year, following a couple of fine efforts in bumpers for previous trainer Harry Derham.

The first of those came at Sandown in February, as he finished runner-up to Anthony Honeyball's useful Crackerjacque, with Listed winner and 20/1 Supreme hopeful Hurricane Pat three lengths behind in third. For extra measure, A Pai De Nom (rated 124 after winning three of his next five starts) was back in fifth.

Three months later, he was sent across the Irish Sea for another bumper at the Punchestown Festival, and he finished a respectable sixth of 22.

That form has worked out extremely well. The runner-up, King Rasko Grey, won a maiden hurdle at Limerick over Christmas and is bound for Grade 1 company at the upcoming Dublin Racing Festival. Riskaway, who finished fourth, may also be tried at the highest level at the DRF - while Conman John (fifth), Espresso Milan (seventh) and Sticktotheplan (eighth) have also done their bit to advertise the form.

Mark up the selection's run, too. Maxwell would be the first to admit he's not at the same standard of his counterparts - the likes of Jody Townend, Charlie Swan and Finian Maguire - so the fact his mount was among such rivals is testament to his ability.

With Ben Jones on board for in my opinion one of the best trainers in the country, there could be a considerable amount of improvement to come.

I suspect he's a 125+ rated individual - and if that assessment is anywhere near accurate, he should be dealing with his 11 rivals in Shropshire.

Of those, Island Bridge and Kara Sacre are, as the betting suggests, the main dangers.

Kara Sacre might prove popular for Venetia Williams in the famous pink and green silks of Rich Ricci, but the form of his runs for Paul Nolan in Ireland prior to joining Aramstone Stables before Christmas is modest. He needs to improve plenty for a yard who aren't having the best season.

Island Bridge is likely to give the selection the most to think about, but he's 0-4 under rules and a line through the aforementioned Conman John reads well in our favour.

I suppose Fergal O'Brien's Plains Drifter isn't without a chance either, but the rest of the field are tough to advise in my book.

Ultimately, if Mondoui'boy is ready on his return from 258 days on the sidelines, I expect him to be very hard to beat.

Click the link for all the latest Horse Racing Odds

Tune into Betfred Insights regularly to find our experts' Nap of the Day